# Just what is the Roman Catholic church, a religion, a nation, a private club, an evil empire..? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 18, 2010, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-what-is-the-roman-catholic-church-a-religion-a-nation-a-private-club-an-evil-empire/547098 "2010-07-18T06:00:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 4
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2010, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-what-is-the-roman-catholic-church-a-religion-a-nation-a-private-club-an-evil-empire/547098/4 "2010-07-18T18:06:47Z")
From that other thread: > [@Catholics thinking of ordaining women? \[i.e. Roman Catholic Church's priorities fucked up. E](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholics-thinking-of-ordaining-women-i-e-roman-catholic-churchs-priorities-fucked-up-e/547036/62): > > Right, I get that. I’m just saying that given the general effect of giving in to temptation, the effect of being removed from a club is rather less of a serious thing than is excommunication. Basically that it’s a weak analogy; excommunication is a much stronger potential negative than is being kicked out out of a club. You’re not ejected physically, but you are ejected spiritually, as I understand it. You may still sit in a church, surrounded by fellow believers, but you no longer belong to that community.. If I belong to a country club, there are certain rules I have to follow on the golf course. If I start cussing at the group ahead of me, piss on the 18th green when I have a bad round, they kick me out. I broke the rules. Same thing with the Church. The Church is following its own rules-- you commit an excommunicable offense, and you get excommunicated. You want to not be excommunicate? Repent, and quit committing that offense. You know what the rules are, and if you’re not willing to abide by them, then you’re not a member of the Church. Start your own Church, or find one that better aligns with your views. People do that all the time. --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-what-is-the-roman-catholic-church-a-religion-a-nation-a-private-club-an-evil-empire/547098)._